How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Des Moines, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs in Des Moines, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area
A typical Surgical Tech in Des Moines, Iowa earns $29.93 per hour, or $62,250 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,188 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $51,640, and the top 10% of earners make over $73,630.
That pay is 3% above the Iowa figure of $60,540 and 4% below the national figure of $64,650. Des Moines ranks 1st of 6 metro areas in Iowa for Surgical Tech pay. About 230 Surgical Techs work in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area. Des Moines is part of the Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so West Des Moines share these figures.
Surgical Tech pay in Des Moines at a glance
- Typical pay is $29.93 an hour, or $62,250 a year.
- That is 3% above the Iowa figure, ranking 1st of 6 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $51,640; the top 10% make over $73,630.
- Typical pay rose +50% from 2015 to 2025, against +56% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Des Moines?
Pay in Des Moines runs from entry-level positions at around $24.83 an hour to more than $35.40 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Des Moines
| Career stage | Des Moines | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $51,640$24.83 an hour | $47,280$22.73 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $60,760$29.21 an hour | $50,680$24.37 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $62,250$29.93 an hour | $60,540$29.11 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $62,730$30.16 an hour | $62,880$30.23 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $73,630$35.40 an hour | $75,100$36.11 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Des Moines · West Des Moines area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Des Moines
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Surgical Tech pay in Des Moines was $41,630 a year. By 2025 it had reached $62,250, a change of +50%, compared with +56% for Iowa over the same years.
How Des Moines compares with other Iowa cities
Des Moines pays Surgical Techs the most of any metro area in Iowa. The lowest-paying area in the state is Iowa City at $58,930.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Des Moines | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $62,250 | $29.93 | this city | 230 |
| 2 | Davenport | $60,520 | $29.10 | -3% | 110 |
| 3 | Dubuque | $60,500 | $29.09 | -3% | 40 |
| 4 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $59,910 | $28.80 | -4% | 40 |
| 5 | Sioux City | $59,670 | $28.69 | -4% | 90 |
| 6 | Iowa City | $58,930 | $28.33 | -5% | 120 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $60,540
Is Des Moines a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Tech pay in Des Moines sits close to the national figure: $62,250 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area, about 0.6 are Surgical Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.8. That makes Surgical Techs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Surgical Tech make in Des Moines, IA?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Des Moines earns $62,250 a year, or $29.93 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $51,640 and the top 10% earn over $73,630.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Des Moines?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Des Moines is $29.93. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $24.83, and the top 10% earn over $35.40 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Des Moines?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Des Moines typically offer around $24.83 an hour, or $51,640 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Des Moines higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Des Moines pay is 3% above the Iowa figure of $60,540 a year, ranking 1st of 6 metro areas in the state.